The industry is honoured at the BMN Awards

The builders’ merchant industry came together on 24 November to celebrate its achievements at the annual BMN Awards.

In its 16th year, the BMN Awards were held at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel in London, where key industry figures came together to celebrate excellence throughout the merchant sector.

The Awards were hosted by Joanna Lumley OBE, who presented the trophies to the worthy winners, and entertained the audience with tales of her own career.

Representatives from the Awards sponsors handed out trophies to the winners, and BMN’s Editor Nichola Farrugia opened and closed the ceremony.

The Awards also held a charity prize draw for guests, which raised over £5,500 for both CRASH and the Rainy Day Trust. The first prize was an overnight stay for two at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel, while the second prize was six bottles of champagne, curtesy of Courtney Smith Group.

This year’s winners were:

Website & Digital Initiative of the Year: Chandler Material Supplies

Marketing Initiative of the Year: Howarth Timber and Building Supplies

Training Initiative of the Year: Kellaway Building Supplies

Community Initiative of the Year by a Builders’ Merchant: Chandlers Building Supplies

Best Customer Service of the Year: Gibbs and Dandy

Hard Landscaping Display of the Year: EH Smith Builders Merchants

Independent Merchant of the Year (1-10 branches): Chandler Material Supplies

Independent Merchant of the Year (11-20 branches): LBS Builders Merchants

Independent Merchant of the Year (21+ branches): MKM Building Supplies

National Merchant of the Year: Selco Builders Merchant

Tool Showroom of the Year: Martin and Partners

Timber Centre of the Year: Covers Timber & BuildersMerchants

Supplier of the Year: Crystal Direct

Trainee of the Year: Lauren Penney, Chandler Material Supplies

Achiever of the Year: Dai Thomas, LBS Builders Merchants

Branch Manager of the Year: Lee Davies, LBS Builders Merchants

Heating & Plumbing of the Year: PlumbStock

Showroom of the Year: Ridgeons

Lifetime Achievement of the Year: Peter Buttle.

Next year’s Builders' Merchants Awards for Excellence will be held at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel on 23 November, 2018. For more information on the Awards, visit www.merchants-awards.co.uk.